Switch



F. STIMAN.

SWITCH. 7

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4. 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESS.- IN ENTOR.

BY li'Stunan A TTORNE Y.

Patented Dec. 16,1919.

FRED STIMAN, OF HEREIN, ILLINOIS.

SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

Application filed August 4, 1919. Serial No.'315,289.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED STIMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Herrin, in the county of Williamson, and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to switches for use in connection with the tracks on which run the cars used in coal mines and the like, and has for its object the provision of a switch structure automatically operable by engagement of levers carried by a car and under the control of the motorman thereof and disposed to engage the switch controlling members arranged at the sides of the track.

An important object is the provision of a switch structure of this character in which upon the approach of a car the switch will be moved to one position and returned to its original position, as the car passes thereover, the device being particularly adapted for use at the point where a run-around leads from the main track and the advantages of the automatic return of the switch to normal position being that there will be nothing to interfere with or delay the operation of cars upon the main line.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, highly eflicient in use, durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my switch structure interposed in a track and showing the main line open, the car being shown approaching the switch.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the switch moved to its other position,

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the lever mechanism carried by the car, 7

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view through the trackway on the line H of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal detail sectional view.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the letter A designates a main trackway and B designates a trackway leading to a run around or the like, not shown. One rail of the main track A is designated by the numeral 10 and is formed continuous and the other rail is formed in two sections, one section 11 being curved toform one rail of the track B and the other section 12 terminating at a point spaced from the beginning of the curvature of the rail 11. The other curved rail forming a part of the trackway B is designated by the numeral 13 and terminates at a point spaced from the continuous rail 10 and in a line with the end of the rail 12. Adjacent their points of juncture or crossing the rails 12 and 13 are provided with cut out portions 14: to permit passage of the flanges of the wheelsof the car The movable switch member comprises a straight section 15 and'a curved section 16 and these sections are pivotedfas shown at 17 and 18, respectively,-upon the base plate 19 upon which the ends of the rails 12 and 13 are secured. At a-point spaced from the plate 19 is disposed another plate 20 which is disposed beneath and which'serves as a guide for the movable switch member. The sections 15 and 16 of the movable switch member are adapted to serve as continuations of the rails 12 and 13, as will be apparent from the inspection of the drawings. The free ends of the sections 15 and 16 are adapted to be engaged selectively with the rails 10 or 11. In order that this movable member may be moved, the free ends of the sections 15 and 16 are pivotally secured, as shown at 21 and 22, respectively, upon a bridle 23 which is a bar extending beneath the trackway. r

In order that the bridle and consequently the movable track sections may be moved, I provide at each side of the trackway laterally extending brackets 2% upon which are pivoted as shown at 25, the end of operating bars 26 and 27 extending longitudinally along and in spaced relation to the rails 10 and 11, respectively. The ends of these bars are curved away from the track rails, as shown, and the bars are arranged in inclined position with respect to the sides of the rails. Intermediate their ends, the bars 26 and 27 are pivotally connected, as shown at 28, upon the bridle 23. Other brackets 29 are secured upon the trackway and are disposed beneath the free ends of the bars 26 and 27 to guide the same in their movement.

The motor car, designated by the letter C, is provided at diagonally opposite corners with levers 30 and 31 which are under con trol of the motorman and which may be moved to extend below the bottom of the car in position to engage the bars 26 and 27.

Assuming that a car is traveling in the direction of the arrow on the main track A, and the motorman desires to enter the track B, he moves the levers 30 so that they will project downwardly beyond the bottom of the car. The movable switch member being in the position shown in Fig. 1, as the forward lever 30 engages against the bar 26, which is at this time inclined with respect to the rail 10, it will exert a wedging action outwardly on the free end of the bar 26 which will cause the bar to swing outwardly upon its pivot, moving the bridle 23 and causing the switch member to be moved so that the curved section 16 thereof will engage against the inner side of the rail 10. The car will then pass onto the trackway B. The position of the parts thus operated is shown in Fig. 2. As the car passes over the movable switch member the rearward lever 30 will engage against the bar 27, which has been swung by the previously described operation into position with respect to the rail l1 and will exert a wedging action on the bar 27 which will swing it out wardly, causingmovement of the bridle 28 and switch member so that the end of the straight section 15 thereof will engage against the rail 11 and close the trackway B so that the main line A will be uninterrupted. If a number of trailing cars are used the motorman drops only the forward lever 30 instead of both and the switch must be returned to initial position by manual means. Upon entering the main line A from the track B, the levers 31 are dropped whereupon the reverse operation will take place.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a simple and eiiicient automatic switch mechanism which may be operated at the will of a motorman whereby the switch may be opened to permit passage of a car and subsequently automatically reclosed without the necessity for the services of a switchman.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, con struction, and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In combination with a main trackway and a branch trackway leading therefrom, a movable member including rail sections pivoted at one end and adapted to form a continuation of the main line or the branch line, a bridle disposed beneath the trackway and pivotally connected with said rail sections and extending beyond both sides of the trackway, brackets extending laterally from the trackway, bars extending longitudinally along the sides of the trackway and pivoted adjacent one end upon said brackets and pivotally connected intermediate their ends upon the projecting ends of said bridle, the extremities of said bars being curved away from the trackway, and means carried by the car and engaging against said bars during the travel of the car whereby to swing said bars successively outwardly with respect to the trackway.

2. In combination with a main trackway and a branch trackway leading therefrom, a movable member including rail sections pivoted at one end and adapted to form a continuation of the main line or the branch line, a bridle disposed beneath the trackway, and pivotally connected with said rail sections and extending beyond both sides of the trackway, brackets extending laterally from the trackway, bars extending longitudinally along the sides of the trackway and pivoted adjacent one end upon said brackets and pivotally connected intermediate their ends upon the projecting ends of said bridle, and a plurality of levers carried by a car at diagonally opposite points thereof and manually movable whereby either selected diagonal bar may be disposed for engagement with said bars whereby to swing said bars successively outwardly away from the trackway.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRED STIMAN. 

